New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-10
thence to San Francisco He will return to England In
October.
SCORING THE ORDNANCE BUREAU
A PLEA FOR ENCOURAGING PRIVATE ENTERPRISE
nArurR ru.N CnyEnNaENr pArRnNAGE

PLEA FOR ENCOURAGING PRIVATE ENTERPRISE
RATHER THAN GOVERNMENT PATRONAGE
To ne EdttOr OF The Trt6uns
SIR: The recent bunders made by the officers Of the
Naval Ordnance Bureau the direct result OF putting
large manufacturing establishments under the direction
of naval military officers. These officers nave not
had the necessary mechanical training to make them
competent charge such workin fact they are
wholly untitled for it, recent events have shown
The first great mistake was in starting National can
non factory the Navy Yard AZ Washington to be con-
Quoted by line of the Navy and hence these mis-
takes the Atlanta The engineer officers OF the Navy
have had mechanical trimming and experience. but they
are ignored and the line OF the Navy have been
put in charge OF the the Navy Yard at Washing
ton The English scientific journal, Engineering OF Sep
TENDER a. the subject of the failure Of the new
English steel guns and the incompetency in the ord
nance service. says:
IL is 10 wonder, then, that those who have been
brought up il the public service from early manhood ana
stepped 10 the lips in its traditions, should OPPOSE
the system 70 which they belong. To our artiilersis
Is not only obieciionaoe, as being opposed 10
their system b?i 1t has the urther disa, W
ing them they know not where The eacs OF te service
which the responsibility fals Know peIIerI3 We,
how gun in action. and should know no" w
lay down tue conditions IL shOna iuInL 1 ~, ~ $50
avest msI1.e 70 a for the tW3 things nave no
relation to each other. To send CooneI " ianase
Woolaich. or Admiral TO supernend portsmouth, 70
like appointing linen draper ned1 vi i,
mill. "A miner rs chief OF a lace factory IN el,ner
subordinates. but there would be no progress Inc
machinery would remain without Improvement ana tne
goods turned would exhibit variety for the Prl-
cipas would be incapable of introducing or understand
ing any novelty If "A business Is 10 prosper III il 81
he under the command OF acapable head and an art is
t. improve there must be many minds, nerNeu by en-
tbusasn aud spurred by competition, WORKING toward
the end.
1t was the sessions OF Congress
to get an appropriation to establish National cannon
factory to Manufacture heavy for the Army under
the direction OF tue ordnance officers of the Army, but
Congress wisely refused TO appropriate the money for
such purpose. The House of Representatives, In ldct,
refused appropriate money 10 be expended under
the direction ordnance Department n tue Army,
and insisted that il money was appropriated Tor
guns il should he expended ny q commission OF
board entirely Independent OF the Ordnance Depart
men because Congress had no confidence IN That De
partnent. No money was appropriated and no tortnca
lion bill passed at the first or second session OF the
XLIXth Congress-.
Government manufacturing is very expensive. and
such work should he done in private est iblshuents
Besides, large Government workshops increase the
patronage OF Governments are sources o poiIllcdi
corruption and wlstetul aud expensive injuries
This Nation has never had National cannon 1oun1ry.
1t has got along for over century, ana mas gone
through several wars-fOre IN ana dcmeStic-WlthOut
any, and in spite OF the Ordnance Department. IL IL
true il would nave been much better Oh II hal had no
ordn ObStructonists To prevent the hfnn@ OF our
gallant soldiers with brcechloadlng rifles during the
War of the Rebellion. AMI that thousands OF lives ana
millions dollars would have been wed 10 the Nation
Still, II the 'cssOn is hccled and no National cannon
foundry i established aud the ordnance Department -
abolished as recommended by the Joint Select Commit
tee on Ordnance OF the >enate aud House OF me Min
Congress. the millions OF dollars lost am the thohhds
OF brave soldiers sacrificed To the ohstinacy am IN
capacity OF the Ordnance Department viii not nave heeh
i'm vain j. r. IL
Ncr York Auc ,. 1887.